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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (June 26, 2000)
Page 6 NEWS Monday, June 26,JOd THE BATTALION Deputy tear-gasses birthday party Sheriff claims procedure, actions valid and is unconcerned with lawsuit NEWTON, Texas (AP) — A South east Texas sheriff defends using tear gas to break up a birthday party at tended by 200 blacks last week and says he is unconcerned that the group is threatening a lawsuit. "I've eaten fat meat that worried me more than they do," Newton .County sheriff Wayne Powell said. Powell, who is white and has been •sheriff for 19 years, told the Houston Chronicle his officers did nothing wrong in the June 17 incident at the American Legion Hall in Newton, 55 miles northeast of Beaumont. "People wouldn't disperse," Pow ell said. "They were drinking and uri nating in front of the officer." His deputies first used loudspeak ers to try to break up a party that had grown too noisy, Powell said. The sheriff, who lives a block away, said he could hear the noise from the party and said he often receives com plaints of loud music and noise com ing from the hall. "You can go over there to Jasper and get yourself a lawyer. The town is full of them." — Wayne Powell Newton County sheriff A deputy threw a canister of tear gas on the metal roof of the hall in an attempt to break up a crowd that filled the building and spilled out into a parking lot, the sheriff said. The tear gas canister rolled off the roof and exploded in a cloud of gas, blocking the only entrance to the hall. Ernie Holmes, a former Pittsburgh Steeler who has retired to his home town of Newton, is a leader of a group that is considering asking the state to investigate the incident. A lawsuit is also being considered. Holmes said. Officers did not warn the group they were going to use tear gas and did not make medical assistance available. Holmes said. The sheriff met with the group and told them they are welcome to sue. "You can go over there .to Jasper and getyourself a lawyer," Powell told them. "The town is full of them." Brandi Gulley, who had rented the facility to celebrate her 18th birthday, said she was crushed by the crowd as they rushed to escape the building. She fell and twisted her ankle. Gulley, who is seven months pregnant, said she fears the fall hurt her unborn child. Some in the group said they think the confrontation was intended to close down the only gathering place for blacks in Newton, a town of 1,900 people. Legion post commander W.D. Smith said the state fire marshal's of fice inspected the building last week, in the wake of the disturbance. In spectors told him the building should not be rented out again until fire ex tinguishers are provided, emergency lighting installed and more exits cre ated, Smith said. 20 miles 20 km IRAQ W x KUWAIT \\ / Kuwait City © Oil refinery explosion in Kuwait caused by a gas leak kills four Persian \ Gulf laiiii SAUDI ARABIA a,; TURKEY f Mediterranean „ . SC ° • H IRAQ EGWTjCJ . IRAN Y <T'-.- KUWAIT | C I SUDAN' i SAUDI ARABIA 22LlT lleS 300 km , ../ mf Source KUWAIT’ (AP) — An explosion ear ly Sunday at the largest of Kuwait's three oil refineries killed four workers, injured 49 and seriously damaged the facility, authorities said. The blast was caused by a gas leak, but it was unclear what had ignited the escaping gas, said the Mina al-Ahme- di refinery's operations manager, Hamza Bakhash. The fire was under control by mid morning, and officials were allowing leaking gas to burn off, he said. "The explosion was huge," Oil Minister Sheik Saud Nasser A1 Sabah told reporters Sunday at the refinery, about 25 miles south of Kuwait City. "Damage is extensive. We still don't know the size or cost of damages. Some units might not be operational for months, and some for weeks." Smoke and flames rose from the "Damage is ex tensive. We still don't know the size or cost of damages." Shiek Saud Nasser Al Sabah Oil minister gasoline unit following the blast. Fire trucks parked nearby were littered with broken glass. At least one concrete structure ap peared destroyed, and the force of the blast shattered windows in office buildings at the complex. Crude exports from the port com plex could resume immediately, said Managing Director Sami al-Rshaid of the Kuwaiti National Petroleum Co., which owns and runs the refinery. Products stored could meet domestic needs for two weeks. "The accident was not due to any sabotage," the company said in a state ment that also reported 49 injured. Ironman hopeful » Listen domes Triathlete Tom Rogers makes repairs to his bike during a training ride on Highway 21 on Saturday. Rogers is preparing for the Iron- man Europe triathalon in Roth, Germany, next month which com bines a 2.4-mile swim, a 26.2-mile run and a 11 2-mile bike ride. ipril Young an The. A proposal that v\ (otection for all stu ;bian, bisexual an< n, is currently awa !tM President Dr. I Last year, Facult) sal that would ha\ tions for gay, lesl inhered students. ;ated legal risks fc ider federal law, £ otected based on t! "Last summer ab jsal from Faculty S hts-like protection id there were legal r News in Brief Hostage freed, 20 others held captive! Railr< MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Muslim guerrillas freed a Malaysian hostage held with 20 other mostly foreign captives in a Philippine jungle as a gesture of goodwill and no ransom was paid, an official said Sunday. Chief negotiator Robert Aventa- jado turned over the hostage, Zulkarnain Hashim, to Malaysian Embassy officials at the presider- tial palace in Manila. Zulkarnar and Aventajado flew to Manilao f Saturday night aboard a privatejel He was released unharme:| Thursday night by Abu Sayyf separatist guerrillas from mountain camp on the island Jolo, in the impoverished soi# ern Philippines. orun Maurei The Be, The first of fiv< eetings will be he! itjpublicopinion on locatingthe railroad Wellborn Road. Ac 6ody President For is an opportunity t railroad's location. C "The forum is op all Bryan-College St Student governmei Because it's very be Impunity," Lane s f... moving the ailroad is in sup) racks as well becau ;rand more efficier The meetings w lublic comment oi eing conducted L nning Organiz '0 is one of 25 fe' izations in the stal multiple agencie !k about regional I I Michael Parks, rector, said, undaries betwee n and the Unive d Texas Departi |n. Wecan talkab he community." 0 has receivec |gative feedback t location of the "We are trying t n for the railroac ility study to de |ion Pacific and tl icific has specific determine what nion Pacific hash Parks said. Lynn Mcllhane Ition and a mem Lit she has hear HieCallawHo ••• CALLAWAY HOUSE The Best of Both Worlds. T he Callaway House is an off-campus student housing alternative in College Station that provides a social environment conducive to achieving your academic objectives. For the complete college experience, immerse yourself in a state-of-the-art community specifically designed to provide you with a complete academic environment. With several apartment-style floorplan choices. The Callaway House is more affordable than you think. And we’re located directly across from Olsen Field, just minutes from campus. 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